A solid season for the UW mens soccer team came to a close on Thursday (Nov. 2) with the teams 1-0 loss to Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament in Columbus, Ohio.

The defeat closes the door on Wisconsins (9-8-2) 2006 campaign, which saw a six-game unbeaten streak in the middle of the season, as well as a No. 22 national ranking at one point. The Badgers finished second in the Big Ten in the regular season.

A goal by Chase Tennant in the games 67th minute would prove to be all the Wolverines (7-9-4) would need to secure the victory.

After a scoreless first half, Michigans Mauro Fuzetti handled the ball inside the 18-yard box to the right of the goal. He played it across the net to a darting Tennant, who headed the ball into the left side of the net.

Although it was not quite enough for UW to pull out a win, Jake Settle (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) still played a phenomenal game patrolling the goal.

The senior set the tone right from the start of the contest. Less than two minutes into the game, Settle extinguished a fast break opportunity for Michigans Alex Morisset, coming up with a diving save to his right.

Settle made another impressive save in the first half. In the games 15th minute, Michigans Kevin Hall shot the ball towards the upper right corner of UWs net. Settle jumped upwards and was able to get a piece of the ball with his right hand. The ball then hit the upper post of the goal, and came back to Settle.

Wisconsins best scoring opportunity came 15 minutes into the game.

Reid Johnson (Mequon, Wis.) was handling the ball from just outside the 18-yard-box. With two defenders on him and his back towards the goal, he immediately turned around and struck the ball. The hard-hit shot sailed just above the upper right corner of the goal.

The Badgers also had several opportunities with their offensive attack in the last few minutes of the game, but were unable to convert.

The Badgers will now look forward to the 2007 season, when they will attempt to build on their winning record from this year and become even more dangerous of a team.